Railways may alter ticketing system to keep touts at bay

The timings for the purchase of advance reservation period (ARP) as well as tatkal tickets are likely to be segregated, Railway sources have said. Officials have also decided to set up separate booking counters for ARP and tatkal tickets in order to prevent touts from buying them in bulk.

The timings for the purchase of advance reservation period (ARP) as well as tatkal tickets are likely to be segregated, Railway sources have said. Officials have also decided to set up separate booking counters for ARP and tatkal tickets in order to prevent touts from buying them in bulk.

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Railway Board chairman Vinay Mittal issued orders to various railway zones and the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to ensure that separate booking counters are installed on a trial basis by Thursday. The new system is expected to be put in place within the next fortnight.

At present, both ARP and tatkal tickets can be purchased from 8 am to 10 am. Officials are also contemplating banning booking clerks at ticket counters from keeping mobile phones, besides installing CCTV cameras, among other proposals. A plan to set up stringent monitoring systems, which would include random checks of individuals purchasing tatkal tickets, is also being considered.

People buying tatkal tickets are required to provide their address and contact details on the request form. However, these details are not verified by the authorities under the current system.

It was also proposed that persons buying tatkal tickets should mandatorily carry their identity cards, so they could be showed at the counters.

These decisions are understood to have been taken at a meeting convened by Railway Board chairperson Vinay Mittal on Thursday. Northern Railways general manager VK Gupta and managing director of the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Rakesh Tandon were also present.

Media reports have highlighted a rise in touts at railway stations in recent times.